by Azubuike Azikiwe

Tega Sampson Oghenedoro, a 28-year-old reporter, with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has been arrested by the DSS for demanding for N50 million from the Niger state government to stop him from broadcasting a story on alleged fraudulent activities within the government.

Oghenedoro was paraded yesterday at the state command of the DSS in Minna. According to the state director of the DSS, Dr. Larry Obiagwu, the reporter was picked up by his men at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while on his way to Minna to collect the N50 million.

Sampson, who also goes by the name, Fajiro Oliver, works with the NTA in Asaba, Delta state, as a producer/cameraman, while also working with Elombah Communications, an online news platform.

Obiagwu disclosed that Sampson and two others, Stanley Gene and Francis Arinze, who are now at large, co-founded ‘Secret Reporters Group’ (SRG) with the objective of blackmailing government officials and heads of organisations for financial benefits.

He said, “Sampson is also the Managing Editor of the Daily Voice Nigeria. He also works for Elombah Communications, an online news reporter owned by Daniel Elombah, a United Kingdom based attorney.”

Obiagwu said that in July and August, Oghenedoro threatened top officials of the Niger state government, that he would expose fraudulent activities taking place within the government, if he was not paid N50 million.

On his part, Oghenedoro said he had nothing to do with the alleged demand of N50 million from the state government, saying he was only on his way to Minna to balance his story.

He claimed to be in possession of a document of corrupt practices against Niger state government over accessed funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and had wanted to confirm from the government before going to press.

Kolapo Olapoju